Apparatus for collection of sediment in bottled fluids

ABSTRACT

Cap means to be placed over the open neck of a bottle containing a fluid from which sediment collects on standing. Upon inverting the bottle, the sediment may be collected in the cap means. A probe is provided in the cap means to seal the neck of the bottle when it is desired either to remove the sediment or to seal the bottle.

United States Patent [191 Wilson et al.

[1 11 I I 3,856,169 [451 Dec. 24,1974

'lnventors:

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTION OF SEDIMENT TN BOTTLED FLUIDS John Stuart Wilson, 180 Kingston Rd., Heatherton, Australia 3202; Ronald George Cutts, 3 Hazel Ave., l-lighett, Victoria, Australia 3190 Filed: July 5, 1973 Appl. No.: 376,332

Foreign Application Priority Data July 7, 1972 Australia 9609/72 us. or. 215/6, 210/532 Int. Cl 365d 1/04 Field of Search 222/129; 73/52; 221/93; v 2l5/6;2l0/532, 533

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,246 5/1958 Boettger 215/6, 3,715,189 2/1973 Nighohossian ..2l5/6 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Ro E. Hart Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald D. Jeffery ABSTRACT Cap means to be placed over the open neck of a bottle containing a fltiid from which sediment collects on 7' standing. Upon inverting the bottle, the sediment may be collected in the cap means. A probe is provided in the cap means to sealthe neck of the bottle when it is desired either to remove the sediment or to seal the bottle.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures According to the 1 APPARATUS EORCOLLECTION OIFY-SEDIMENT 1N BOTTLED FLUIDS The present invention relates to apparatus-and methods for the collection of sediment in bottled fluids, especially in bottles of home brewed beer and/or champresent invention there is provided capping means adapted to be inverted over. the top of the bottle containing the fluid from which the sediment is to be collected, said capping means being adapted to be secured to the bottle top and upon inversion of the bottle to present a well wherein the sediment will collect, said well preferably having therein a centralconical probe adapted to divert the sediment to the base of the well and adapted to seal the bottle upon completion of the collection of the sediment.

' Preferably the capping means are a four part plastic assembly comprising a plastic ring adapted to be snappedover the bottle rim and having a threaded skirt adapted to receive a plastic body member screw threaded about'the skirt of the ring to position the ring securely over the bottle top, a probe member adapted I to move longitudinally within said body-member and a knurled cap adapted to mate with said probe member and to so move it, said cap being'screw threaded to said body member. Preferably the body member has a cen tral cylindrical section extending inwardly to form an annular sediment collecting well.

The probe member preferably has a conical top adapted to divert sediment to the well, and either having a radius complementary to the inner radius of the bottle top so that a tight seal therewith may be attained, or having a surface area adapted to mate with an annular seal formed within the cap andresting on thetop of the bottle.

I Preferably the body member has several slots, such that after the caphas been'turned so that'the conical probe has been'sealed against the bottle top, the slots are exposed and it is possible toiremove any sediment collected in the annularwell. After removing the sedi ment and, if desired, washing the well, the probe is unsealed so that further sediment may be collected if desired.

But in order that the invention may be more clearly understood a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FlG. 1 is a perspective view of the cap means;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the central axis; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view.

The cap means 11 comprises a locking ring 12 having a split skirt 1-3, adapted to fit snugly around a bottle neck, and-a threaded portion 14 to matewith complementary threaded portion 15 on the body member 16.

. A flanged annular body seal 17 sits on top of the bottle neck and ensures a gas tight seal between the cap means and the bottle and between the locking ring 12 and body member 16. The .body member 16 hasa threaded portion on skirt 15 screwing onto the locking The cap 22 has an external threaded portion 23 complementary to the threaded skirt 19 and a knurled surface 24 which acts as the turning knob for the cap means 11. The shank25 oftheconical probe or valve 26 is accommodated in a central well 27 in the cap 22.

The central well is extended at 28 to form a recess wherein the inner edge of seal 21 is retained.

The central well 27 and the outer end of the shank 25 are connected together by a screw thread having a pitch three times that of the pitch of the screw thread between the body member 16 and the cap 22. Further a key 29 is secured to the shank 25 and rides in slot 30 to constrain the movement of the probe 26. Thus on erably two diametrically opposed, such that as the probe 26'advances and seals against the body seal 17,

the cap 22 and so seal 2l is retracted, thus allowing ports 31 to provide access to'the interior of the body member 16 to thereby allow removalof any sediment therein. On turning of the cap to close the ports 31, as the cap advances towards the bottle, the seal 21 seats on recess 20 to close the ports and provide a gas tight connection between the cap22 and body member 16, the probe being retracted from the neck of the bottle, thusallowing sediment from the upturned bottle to settle in the body member 16. v

When it is desired to cap a bottle filled with home brew, the split locking ring 12 is placed over theneck of the bottle; the split allowing easy positioning on the bottle neck. The bottle niember 16, together with the A member from the bottle. Then, the'bottle is inverted and sediment allowed to collect in the body member. Dependent on the amountof sediment, the cap may beturnedto adjustthe position of the probe so that it seals the bottle neck, this turning affording access, via the ports 31, to the interior of the body member for removal'of sediment.v v i v a,

Preferably the plasticv of the'body member is translucent so that the amount of sediment collected may be readily ascertained.

The type of plastic and its wall thickness will preferably be chosen so that the capping assembly may act as a pressure relief valve. In the event of excess pressure building up within the bottle, the capping assembly will be blown off rather than causing the bottle to shatter as is often the case now. If desired an indicator, possiring 12 with an inner rim 18 against which the flanged i portion of body seal 17 seats. The other end of the body also has athreaded skirt l9 and is recessed at 20 to form a stop for annular flanged cap seal 21, which en sures a gas tight seal between the body member 16 and thecap 22.

' the well.

bly in the form of a small plastic flap displaceable under pressure, may be incorporated in the assembly in order that due warning may be givenof the likelihood'of a blow-off so that excess pressure may be released to prevent it.

In use, after bottling a brew, the capping assembly is fixed to the top of the bottle, and then the bottle inverted, either immediately as for home-brew or after a series of half-turns as for champagne, so that eventually the bottle is held inverted for the sediment to collect in From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple and effective apparatus for the collection of sediment in fluids especially in fluids such as home brew and champagne.

Use of the method above described for so collecting V sediment lessens the possibility of Blow-offs and explosions, which can be dangerous as well as causing a mess. Bynoticing when excessive pressures are gathering, precautions can be taken eliminating the wastage of the entire contents of a bottle.

Removal of excess gas means elimination of excessive frothing on opening a bottle, especially .a bottle of home brew. Also, due to the removal of sediment, it becomes possibleto store a bottle of home brew on its side in a refrigerator, rather than the present restrictive storage in an upright position.

Thus in addition to providing simple but effective means for the collection and removal of sediment from fluids, the present invention provides for a safer storage,'pressure indication, a more versatile cooling position and a lessening of wastage by frothing on' opening of the bottle.

' lclaim:

1. A capping assembly adapted to be inverted over the top of a bottle containing fluid from which sedi-' ment can be collected, said'capping assembly comprising a body member having port means for egress of the collected sediment, means for securing said body member to the neck of said bottle, a conical probe member mounted for controlled longitudinal movement within said body member and spaced therefrom to form therewith a well for collecting such sediment, cap means p.

said bottle comprises a split ring adapted tobe snapped over the rim of said bottlefsaid ring being formed with an'exteriorly threaded upper skirt, said body member "being interiorly threaded at the bottom thereof for threaded engagement with said skirt to position the body member securely over the top of said bottle.

. 3. The capping assembly of claim 1 wherein said body member is threaded on the interior of its upper end, and said cap means is provided with exterior threads for engagement with the threads of said body member, such threaded connection permitting said cap means when rotated to move longitudinally relative to said body member.

4. The capping assembly of claim 3 wherein said cap means is provided with a central well the interior of which is threaded to receive the threaded exterior of said probe member, and key means operatively interconnecting said probe member and said body member for preventing rotation of said probe member upon rotation of said cap means whereby said probe member can be adjusted longitudinally relative to said body by rotation of said cap means.-

5, The capping assembly of claim 4 wherein the threaded connections between said means and said bodymember and said probe member is such that said probe'advances or retracts at approximately double the eratively connected to said probe member for controllingthe longitudinal movement of the probe member between'first and second positions, first seal means for sealing said. well when said probe member is in said first controlled position and opening said well to said port means when said probe member is in said second controlled position, and second seal means disposed adjacent the inner end of said probe member for sealing said bottle when said probe member is in said second controlled position thereby permitting withdrawal of such sediment from said well through said port means.

2. The capping assembly of claim l wherein said means for securing said body member to the neck of rate of longitudinal movement of said cap means relative to said body member' 6. The capping assembly of claim 2 wherein said probe member is formed with a conical top adapted to divert sediment from said bottle to said well.

7. The capping assembly of claim 2 wherein said body member is formed with a radially extending section near the bottom end of said body member provided with a opening through which said probe member extends, said section forming one end of said sediment collecting well.

8. The capping assembly of claim 2 wherein said body member is made of translucent plastic material whereby the amount of sediment collected may be readily ascertained. 

1. A capping assembly adapted to be inverted over the top of a bottle containing fluid from which sediment can be collected, said capping assembly comprising a body member having port means for egress of the collected sediment, means for securing said body member to the neck of said bottle, a conical probe member mounted for controlled longitudinal movement within said body member and spaced therefrom to form therewith a well for collecting such sediment, cap means operatively connected to said probe member for controlling the longitudinal movement of the probe member between first and second positions, first seal means for sealing said well when said probe member is in said first controlled position and opening said well to said port means when said probe member is in said second controlled position, and second seal means disposed adjacent the inner end of said probe member for sealing said bottle when said probe member is in said second controlled position thereby permitting withdrawal of such sediment from said well through said port means.
 2. The capping assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said body member to the neck of said bottle comprises a split ring adapted to be snapped over the rim of said bottle, said ring being formed with an exteriorly threaded upper skirt, said body member being interiorly threaded at the bottom thereof for threaded engagement with said skirt to position the body member securely over the top of said bottle.
 3. The capping assembly of claim 1 wherein said body member is threaded on the interior of its upper end, and said cap means is provided with exterior threads for engagement with the threads of said body member, such threaded connection permitting said cap means when rotated to move longitudinally relative to said body member.
 4. The capping assembly of claim 3 wherein said cap means is provided with a central well the interior of which is threaded to receive the threaded exterior of said probe member, and key means operatively interconnecting said probe member and said body member for preventing rotation of said probe member upon rotation of said cap means whereby said probe member can be adjusted longitudinally relative to said body by rotation of said cap means.
 5. The capping assembly of claim 4 wherein the threaded connections between said means and said body member and said probe member is such that said probe advances or retracts at approximately double the rate of longitudinal movement of said cap means relative to said body member.
 6. The capping assembly of claim 2 wherein said probe member is formed with a conical top adapted to divert sediment from said bottle to said well.
 7. The capping assembly of claim 2 wherein said body member is formed with a radially extending section near the bottom end of said body member provided with a opening through which said probe member extends, said section forming one end of said sediment collecting well.
 8. The capping assembly of claim 2 wherein said body member is made of translucent plastic material whereby the amount of sediment collected may be readily ascertained. 